Show-case.



P. LOUDON'.

SHOW GASE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1914.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

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Wed L 04/40/7 gwuawtoz F. LOUDON. snow CASE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20.1914.

1,123,332. Patented Jan.5,1915.

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FRED LOUDlON, 0F WILMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

SHOW-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 5, 1915.

1 Application filed January 20, 1914. Serial No. 813,208.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Finn) LOUDON, a citizenof the United States, residing at Wilmington, in the county of Will andState of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShow-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

'The show case which is the subject matter of the present applicationfor patent is designed more particularly for holding and displayingcigars, and the object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved show case structure which will obviate the necessity of takinga box of cigars out of the case and holding it before the customer forhis choice.

A further object of the invention is to provide a show case having anovel and improved closure, and means whereby the same may be operatedby thesalesman behind the case.

The herein stated objects are attained by means of a novel combinationand arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa perspective view of the show case; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionthereof; Fig. 3 is a rear end view, partly in section, and Fig. 4; is ahorizontal section of one corner of the case.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 5 denotes the side walls of acase or housing, the same being stepped at the top to support a seriesof compartments in which the cigar boxes to be displayed are placed. Theside walls may be paneled as shown, or otherwise constructed to producea neat and attractive design, and they are connected by front and rearwalls 6 and 7, respectively. The panels of the side walls are divided byposts 8, and the case also has corner posts 9 and a suitable basemolding 10. It will be noted that the posts 8 and 9 are stepped in orderthat the compartments may be arranged in steps or tiers, the rearcompartment being the highest.

Each compartment comprises a bottom 11 suitably mounted and supportedbetween the side walls 5, a top 12, a back 13, a vertically slidablefront door 14, and end walls 15. The door is supported at the bottom bya cross-bar 16 extending and slidably mounted between the side walls 5,said crossbar having a top groove in which the lower edge or bottom ofthe door seats. On the inner surface of the side walls 5 are spacedguide strips 17 between which the cross-bar slides. The cross-bar beingvertically slidable it will be evident that the door 14: may 3 swingingthe same to the right, the shaft 20 is rocked in a direction to swingthe arm 19 downward, and as said arm is connected to the cross-bar 16,the door 14 is slid down to uncover the front of the compartment andrender the interior thereof accessible. swing of the crank-handle in theopposite direction slides the door upward to closed position, the actionbeing assisted by a counterweight 25 carried by a line 26 made fast tothe extremity of the arm 19 and passing over a guide pulley 27 mountedon one of the side walls 5. The counterweight balances the parts so thatthe crank-handle may be released without the door dropping down. Thedoor of each compartment has an independent operating mechanism asherein described.

It will be noted in Fig. 2 that the top 12 of the compartment is spacedat the back from its wall 13 a sufficient distance to accommodate thedoor of the next compartment to the rear. 1n the rear of eachcompartment, except the top one, is a wall 13 which supports the rearportion of the top 12 of the compartment and is spaced from the wall 13a sufiicient distance to accommodate the door of the next compartmentabove. All joints of the compartment walls will be lined with feltstrips to exclude air. The end and bottom edges of the doors 147 have ametal edge binding 29, as shown in Fig. 4, to prevent chipping, saiddoors being made of glass. The walls of the com partment are also madeof glass in order to display the contents thereof. The side posts 22,the handle 23 of which projects 1' 8 and the front corner posts 9 haveguide grooves 30 for the doors 13.

By means of the show case herembefore described the cigars can bedisplayol in a safe, convenient and attractive manner, and it is notnecessary for the salesman or clerk [to reach into the case and hand outthe cigars to the customer. This method is objectionable as the cigarsare liable to damage by the repeated handling, and they must also berearranged at frequent intervals. The sliding doors are readily operatedby the salesman from his place behind the counter, and the customer,after the door of the compartment containing the desired brand of cigarshas been opened, can reach into the same and select the cigar or cigarsdesired without removing the box.

I claim:

A show case comprising a housing, a series of compartments at the top ofthe housing arranged in stepped relation and comprising each a top, abottom, and a rear wall, the front of the compartment being open,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for Witnesses:

a a door for the open front of each compart- 'ment, said door beingslidable downwardv into the housing to uncover said front of thecompartment, a series of rock shafts mounted in the housing below thecompartments, and located adjacent to one .of the a side walls of thehousing, one end of the shafts terminating adjacent to the back Wall ofthe housing, said wall having slots, crank arms on the rock'shaftshaving actuating handles projecting" through the aforesaid slots, rockerarms extending from the rock shafts, andlin'ks connecting the rockerarms to the respective doors.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRED LoU oNJ FRANK ROWLAND, AMBROSE SiHAnsAnL.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of 'Patents,

Washington, D. 0. g

